Science

Mobile Chernobyls. That's how opponents of the proposed nuclear waste repository in Nevada describe the transport of tons of radioactive waste from more than 100 temporary storage sites at nuclear power plants across the nation. Over the objections of Nevada's Governor and its citizens, Congress recently voted to locate a permanent facility at Yucca Mountain, a 90 minute drive northwest of Las Vegas. We hear a special broadcast from National Public Radio's Justice Talking series. In Minnesota, the Legislature could take up a bill Thursday, the third day of its special session, that would clear the way for Xcel Energy to store more nuclear waste at its Prairie Island power plant.
Unwanted messages show up in our email, but is it really as big a problem on the internet as we think? What can be done to stop or at least slow it down.
They've been mocked as "franken-food." But far from stumbling, genetically-modified crops dominate the corn and soybean market.
Farmers' love affair with genetically-modified crops is growing. The latest debate is over a new genetically-modified wheat variety, which is being developed by Monsanto. Monsanto is one of the largest distributors of high-tech crops. But farmers are urging Monsanto to keep Roundup Ready wheat in the laboratory.
More people relied on the internet for news and information related to the Iraq war than ever before according to a recent national study.
Minnesota's premier research institutions formalized an alliance Thursday in what Gov. Tim Pawlenty termed a "historic" step toward making the state a world leader in cutting-edge science fields. Pawlenty and leaders of Rochester's Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota announced a plan to have the state devote more than $100 million over the next few years to get the partnership up and running.
A husband and wife team of dinosaur researchers from Minnesota have discovered the first solid evidence of cannibalism in dinosaurs. Ray Rogers and Kristi Curry Rogers published their evidence on the Majungatholus dinosaurs in the latest issue of the science journal Nature. The researchers found teeth marks on fossilized bones of Majungatholus dinosaurs that could only have been inflicted by one of their own species. The dinosaurs lived in Madagascar some 65 million years ago.
Governor Pawlenty says biotechnology will cause an economic revolution in the US. In order to get Minnesota involved, he's working with officials at the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic to join a partnership to lead the way in biotech development. All that's missing in Pawlenty's plan is state money.
Researchers from around the world are gathering in St. Paul to talk about the possible dangers in fibers in taconite ore. Those microscopic fibers are a lot like asbestos, and asbestos causes cancer. Organizers of this week's conference will try to determine whether taconite fibers pose a health risk. The answer could have a big impact on future mining projects, and the economy of northeastern Minnesota.
A live broadcast from the National Press Club featuring the director of the National Institutes of Health, Elias Zerhouni, talking about the future of biomedical research.